Late Shift

I watched a streamer play Late Shift a few days ago, and thought that it will redefine the interactive video experience. Late shift is a movie, choice-based adventure game. It’s similar to the Telltale games in terms of mechanics, but its choice of using directed live action videos instead of animated game graphics brings it closer towards a movie-type experience.

Next Generation Home Movies

Late Shift made me wonder about the possibility of an interactive movie experience in small group settings, where the audience decides the course of action to take and how the ending unfolds. Watching such a movie in a home setting promotes interaction between the audience and allows them to have a part in how the content unfolds. Having different story developments promotes replayability and allows the group to replay the content. Currently, these experiences are mostly single-player, but I believe that a movie-style choose your own adventure type of game like Late Shift can work well for a group setting because of its similarity to a movie.

Implementation and discussion

With phone applications being used as television remote controls, they can certainly be adapted as a choice selection mechanism. Certainly, seeing the decisions of others can be a point for further discussion and sharing of viewpoints. This encourages discussion and also allows for an enlightening experience that shows and deals with social issues.

Conclusion

Choose-your-own-adventure games grants the audience control over the cinematic experience. This empowers the audience and creates an interactive experience that involves the audience. This allows memorable moments to be created by the audience themselves in addition to the viewing experience.

One Reply to “Late Shift”

I’m confused by the term “next generation home movies.” A home movie is made by the family to be re-watched by the family and you’re discussing a directed and acted set of content linked by technologically enabled choices. I think “next generation home viewing experience” is a more descriptive term. I think your concluding point about shared empowerment of the viewers through the content is compelling and analyzing the power relationships and hierarchies that could produce in viewers could push the point home. This is especially interesting in regards to your point about group viewing.